The Painted Door

What qualities lead to a solid foundation in a successful relationship? Consideration, collaboration, and faith are all solid building blocks in the construction and maintenance of the institution which is a relationship. Without these and other robust components that build up the foundation of relationship it will either fall apart or become derelict and in a state of disrepair. Cooperation, respect, and mutual belief in each other, make John and Ann’s relationship in the short story “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross healthier than Liam and Gabriella’s in the short story “Bluffing” by Gail Helgeson.

The ability to work together is critical for a relationship to succeed. It is this cooperation that makes Ann and John’s relationship successful
John first demonstrates his belief in Ann when he leaves in the morning. When he tells her that he’s inviting “Steven to come early”(Ross 227), he shows that he believes in her completely as he sees no problem leaving her alone with another man. He this because he is “assured….of her affection...unsuspecting that it might ever be less than his own”(227) This display of faith in his spouse proves to Ann that he has noin her. Ann also never stops thinking that John will return home no matter how severe the storm. She goes back to “the winter before [they] were married- all the blizzards [they] had that year- and [that] he never missed”(238). This continual faith holds Ann and John together. On the other hand, Liam and Gabriella never stop doubting each other. For example, Gabriella lacks faith in Liam’s commitment to their future. When the time comes for her to ask him about the lease, she fears the possible answer from him so she waits until the last moment to ask him “would they sign the lease or not”(Helgason 1). By taking Liam to the lake, Gabriella plans on making him feel trapped and unable to say no to her demands. Skepticism of Liam grows in the place where her eternal faith should lie. Finally, as the doctors about to take off his bandages, Liam shows how little he thinks Gabriella believes in him. By asking her if “[she knows he] wasn’t trying to run away up there”(5), Liam displays his innermost fear of Gabriella lacking faith in him. The rate at which the rift between Liam and Gabriella grows is amplified by his vulnerable state and emotional distress revealing how fragile their relationship